ringleaders: (Default)
Lost Carnival Mods ([personal profile] ringleaders) wrote in [community profile] lostcarnival2019-01-16 02:56 pm

⇨ THE WYLDLANDS

Who: Everyone pursuing the Huntsman.
When: Day 134 - Day 140
Where: The Wyldlands
What: Working as scouts from the Summer armies, the carnival makes a dangerous trek into the Wyldlands to find the Huntsman, defeat him, and save the Ringmaster from the Hunt. The day descriptions below are an outline, and details may change based on actions earlier in the week. Overall, though, it will keep the same general locations. You can make up encounters with Wylderkin at any time.
Warnings: Probably violence and gross Huntsman stuff.

HUNTING THE HUNTER

Upon first arriving in the Wyldlands, the carnival will find themselves in a scene much like the picture above - strange mountain ranges rise up around them, while thick forest cling to the land between. Every so often, giant silhouettes of Wyld Fae will fly overhead. Thankfully, the Summer Fae have picked an area with plenty of cover to hide in to begin their infiltration, and as the carnival is arriving via teleporation, there will be squadrons of Summerland and Summer Court Fae spreading out and concealing themselves within the trees. They will be following the carnival's trail as they move deeper into the Wyldlands, looking for their guidance to avoid the maw of the Hunt.

The carnival Supervisors will be given several golden scrolls that unfurl into small light elementals. These will transmit information between the Summer armies and the carnival at speeds similar to sending a text message. They takes various forms, but most of them are abstract motes of light with wings and tails. When delivering messages, they take the form and voice of whoever gave the message, like a custom hologram that disappears immediately after finishing.

After the carnival has been debriefed one more time, they will be sent off ahead to begin their scouting duties. Through a mixture of augury and expertise, the Summer Fae have narrowed down an area the Huntsman should be, as well as designated a general route that will mostly have ground cover. Who knows if it will stay that way, though, with how quickly the Wyldlands change. Much like in the Summer Court, time here is subjective - all sense of time varies between individuals, and the only solid way of knowing when a day is over is to have the light from the sky disappear. All time pieces will perform erratically while here.

The carnival will still need to eat and rest, as well, which means that they will have to figure out the best times to set up camp. They have sufficient rations, at least.


► DAY 134: The carnival heads deeper into the forest on the first day of their scouting mission, told to head for a giant tree that they can see on the horizon. Apparently, this tree is a landmark that will remain consistent for the time being. Someone will have to check above the canopy every so often to keep everyone on target, which risks gaining the attention of flying Wyld Fae. There are plenty of Wylderkin around (lesser Wyld Fae that behave more like standard fantasy animals) but overall the journey through this section will not be hugely perilous, as long as they remain cautious and hidden. There will be a Megathread on this day, dealing with some optional and only mildly important Summer Court NPC interactions.

► DAY 135: Early during the next day of travelling, the forest will begin to fill with more and more magical fungi until giant shrooms have almost completely replaced the trees. At first they will seem innocuous, but as their presence becomes more inescapable, it will gradually become apparent than many of the mushrooms are poisonous to the touch - and eating them will be far worse! Those with empathetic connections to plants may be able to determine which are poisonous and which aren't, while some fungi may even have beneficial effects, if they get lucky enough to find and identify them. Generally speaking, though, there are few non-plant creatures around here, due to the fact that everything is toxic, including the swampy water that covers large sections of the ground. There will be no mod directed interactions during this period, besides handling general investigations.

► DAY 136: During the middle of this day, the carnival will finally reach the giant tree. On one hand, the plant-life has become relatively safe again. On the other, the giant tree is the lair of several neutral Wyld Fae who probably won't like the carnival's presence. On the other other hand, maybe those Wyld Fae might be willing to help or offer them directions? It's up to the group to decide if they want to attempt diplomacy, or to stealth past the tree and find their own way. There will be a Megathread on this day, based on however the team decides to handle it.

► DAY 137: Past the area surrounding the big tree, the lush foliage of the forest will begin degrading until nothing is left but dark naked trunks filled with glowing pods of various sizes. It's here that those with a connection to the Hunt will start to get a sense of the Huntsman's presence, and will be drawn in a vague direction. Unfortunately, this will also be their first major brush with the Hunt itself. Hunt patrols skirmish with neutral Wyld Fae in this forest, and the collateral damage of their warfare can be seen all over. The carnival will want to either map out a path through the trees that the fighting can be avoided for the sake of the Summer troops, or give them enough data to be able to handle the threat. How this portion goes will partly depend on the outcome of the previous day's Megathread.

► DAY 138: The forest will open up into the beginnings of a mountain range, with flowing water, luminescent plant life, and the occasional cluster of crystals sprouting from the earth. There are large parties of Hunt controlled Wyld Fae patrolling this area, and so making it through will require careful navigation. As the path becomes more and more mountainous, it will be possible to find routes that mostly avoid the patrols - this information will need to be communicated back to the Summer troops. There will be a Megathread here dealing with a Hunt patrol encounter.

► DAY 139: The mountains will continue to steepen, and the crystal formations will grow more huge and consistent. The air is always cloudy, and the air condition is bad, making it harder to breathe. Weather will become more and more unfavorable the higher into the mountains the carnival gets, with cold winds and lightning that frequently strikes the crystals and causes them to send out bursts of destructive energy. Paths will occasionally crumble. There is still a heavy Hunt presence, here, though they keep to safer trails - the best way to avoid them may indeed be taking the most dangerous routes. It's probably better than being mauled to death by beasts, though. Some distant mountain tops look like the might be volcanoes. There is almost no plant-life here, besides the most stubborn of brambles. By this point, the pull of the Huntsman has grown much stronger.

► DAY 140: The sky clears enough to show a deep red skyline. Barren cliffs are punctuated with rivers of lava, and paradoxically vibrant trees and foliage in erratic spurts. The those in the carnival with a connection to the Hunt will find themselves drawn to a valley in the center of the rocks, absolutely filled with Wyld Fae and other slaves gathered from around the multiverse. This will be the final encounter, and the carnival may have to trust in their Wyld Fae disguises to make it through. There will be multiple Megathreads here, detailing the encounter with the Huntsman and bringing this log to an end.
whattaprick: (did you even notice?)

[personal profile] whattaprick 2019-01-17 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
It’s a busy time for everyone, but Lambert is going to try and ask the Summer Maiden for some insight on the Wyld Fae and interacting in the Wyldlands in general.

Is there a good chance any of the Great Beast’s previous allies are still alive somewhere in the Wyldlands? If so, does she think they’d be willing to join their cause or if they’d be more likely to see the Ringmaster as having abandoned them? The Ringmaster mentioned having allies and friends before, he explained, but she never spoke of any Wyld Fae of note, and she never described how she dealt with leading them. Like other fae, he assumes any they run into will be able to sense the Beast’s influence on them, but they’ll have a tough time telling Wyld Fae apart at a glance.

He’ll add that they haven’t met any Wyld Fae directly besides the Ringmaster and the Prince, which is about as different as it gets — all he knows about them is the Ringmaster’s general description of how they were treated by the courts, but not much about beating them or trying to win them over. If she’s got any advice, he’s all ears.
soft_focus: (Hair12)

Reira Akaba | OTA

[personal profile] soft_focus 2019-01-17 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
soft_focus: (Extra36)

OTA | DAYS 129 - 135

[personal profile] soft_focus 2019-01-17 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Calm Before The Storm [DAYS 129-133]]

[In the time that others are off discussing with the Summer Court, Reira is left quite alone. Not entirely alone of course- there are certainly others there. But it's alone enough that for much of it, she's simply off in the less built-up areas of the Summerlands sitting with a collective of native birds. Perhaps it's from being lonely, but she spends so much time with them she seems to know what they're saying...

But what happens in those early days is perhaps less important than what comes later.

Once everyone is back after all, it's time to get ready to go. She won't be convinced to stay- not for this, and she diligently takes the bag that had been left in the 'Egg room' for all of Polaris' stay to sort out what ought come along for the trip.

Anything else... ...Well she'll store that in the egg room anyway, it's fine.

It's a time for getting kitted up- armor on, supplies gathered. Reira's daemon stares in the form of a large bird as the girl herself goes through the motions of each thing- trying on shiny, almost beetle-like armor, practicing awkward punching motions with her 'punch ring'- or just chatting with Kage the sparrow.

Apparently they remembered the Summerlands after all! How sweet.
]

[Into the Woods [DAY 134]]

[Reira isn't much for speaking with the fae, or perhaps more accurately people would rather she not speak much to them in the first place. Maybe she gets a shot anyway, but whatever she says or does it doesn't seem to leave much in the way of a 'mark' on her. She's still hiking along with the 'support' team as though this were only a camping trip, the only indication of otherwise being the Summoning Horn at her waist, the Punch Ring on her hand, and more notably the absence of her bird-

She told Kage to try and stay ahead with the team up front, Just in Case.

Every so often she seems to get a bit tired out though- summoning her daemon and instead riding on the back of a bear, sighing a little at the trip. But for the most part, she seems to take the surroundings quite well. In fact-
]

Oh, hello. [One of the avian wylderkin in the area seems to have deposited itself upon her head.] ...We're not staying, but...We might have crumbs when we eat next, I guess..?

[Ah, of course....A leech,]

[MUSHROOMS, MUSHROOMS! [DAY 135]]

[Reira has a flower affinity, and who knows if that could or couldn't help her take wild guesses at poisonous flora- but flowers unfortunately, are not mushrooms. So as the travelling party begins to move through a wood dominated more and more by mushrooms, Reira spends more and more time on her daemon rather than walking typically. Why?]

Snff! ...No-!

[Because while Penuel certainly can't identify if any of these are useful, they can at least veer away from anything that smells Bad, and apparently that's just about every dang mushroom in this place (including, go figure, the useful ones).

Better safe than sorry, right?
]

...Are we going to have to get through all the mushrooms before we sleep tonight..? [She asks someone near her. This is an honest concern- what if spores fall on them while they camp or something.]

[WILDCARD - This top level is for anything as far back as the beginning of the Diplomatic talks in the Summer Court, all the way to day 135! So if you have an idea for something specific with Reira during that time, go ahead and tag in with it!]
npcarnival: (Default)

[personal profile] npcarnival 2019-01-17 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Some of them, almost certainly. Wyld Fae are as long lived as other fae, and the rebellion wasn't completely wiped out. The survivors just escaped back into the Wyld Lands. Whether or not they'd still be interested is another question - they can be fickle, or stubborn, or spiteful, all of which would get in the way of them cooperating now.

She's not sure if they would sense just Wyld Fae magic on them or if they'd sense the Ringmaster in particular.

Wyld Fae are generally fairly individualistic, though that's not always the case. Some move together in tribes, but many more exist as loners. It's partly due to the fact that they have power based hierarchies - the strongest lead. Because of that, unless they have something to gain from supporting you, most of them would rather just look out for themselves. It's not because they are evil or malicious, just because surviving is not always easy for them. If they are in a group, it's because a powerful Wyld Fae has agreed to protect weaker ones in exchange for other services.

They are ultimately people, the same as any fae from the Court, so they all have their own motivations and goals. They just have a tendency towards being short sighted and selfish with regards to anyone outside of their personal tribes or families. Many do not maintain connections with family at all. Compassion has not be historically rewarded in their kind, so they are not always prepared to give it or receive it.
npcarnival: (Default)

⇨ READY TO GO (MEGATHREAD)

[personal profile] npcarnival 2019-01-18 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Before crossing over to the Wyldlands, the carnival was brought to the Summer Court once more to make use of the same portals. That way, they'd have a better chance of ensuring that everyone ended up in the same drop area. Of course, with so much going on, this results in a period where everyone is left to complete last-minute preparation, and otherwise wait for deployment.

While this is going on, those who reply to this thread will be approached by an imposingly tall Summer Court soldier, with long silvery hair and skin. Her neck and extremities glow an incandescent orange, as if made of superheated metal. She is wearing armor, but it is minimal, mostly just covering her breasts and other private areas.

"You," she says, without bothering with any formalities. "You're the Wyld Kin, right? You're the ones that started all this."

Her voice is forceful, but not exactly angry. Just impatient.
atouts: (035; ace of pentacles)

[personal profile] atouts 2019-01-18 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Childermass has very little time or patience for the fae, sorry everyone. He was, for the most part, staying out of the way and keeping an eye on the others from the carnival as they got ready to go right up until this.

Until this whoever approached. He turns and looks, with the usual indifference he holds for pretty much anyone he doesn't care for.

"We did not start anything," he disagrees cooly. "If you have a problem with who really started this, I suggest you lodge your complaints with the Queens of the Courts."
anti_nonsense: (I may have cat ears but YOU look stupid.)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2019-01-18 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Rita, dressed in her duelist armor with a whip at her side, wastes little time in responding, her arms folded as she looks over the Summer Court soldier... then glances away, slightly flustered as she realizes how little said soldier is actually wearing.

"If anything, it's the Winter Court that started all this," she scoffs, adding to Childermass's statement. "We just brought it to your Court's attention."
npcarnival: (Default)

[personal profile] npcarnival 2019-01-18 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
The fact that she immediately receives two somewhat sassy replies seems to changer her tone a little. She raises her eyebrows, surprised, but in a way that mostly suggests that she's just seen something amusing.

"Oh... sensitive!" she says. "Can't say I've ever had a changeling talk back like this. You're really something else. Talkin' to the Queen herself. Crazy."
kingsroads: (why is norrell like this)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2019-01-18 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Crazy is an understatement," Strange sighs. "The Great Beast didn't really believe in things like teaching us about respecting fae hierarchy."

He just sounds a little bit done with all this. Unlike Rita, Strange isn't wearing any armor but is wearing a top and slacks that are easy enough to move around in.
fortuneglass: (o-o?)

[personal profile] fortuneglass 2019-01-18 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Carly might not have been present at the discussions, but it doesn't take a genius to guess what's going on. She herself bristles, and were she not already wearing her cloak of shadows along with some borrowed armor, flames and light alike would no doubt be a brilliant red.

She raises a bit of an eyebrow at Strange- "Why aren't you just saying the Ringmaster," she mutters, but then looks back to the fae. "...Is there something you wanted to talk to us about?" she asks, admittedly confused by the fae's shift in tone. She can't really say much more- after all...she wasn't the one who really spoke to the Queen.
moonfang: (let's have some real fun!)

[personal profile] moonfang 2019-01-18 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
Zangetsu wasn't there, either, but he definitely made sure he heard all about it. He straps on some light, flexible armor pieces that match the strange, blue-scaled pauldron on his right shoulder. He puts on a helmet that has horns resembling his Hollow mask.

Following Carly's question about her motives, Zan offers another. "And what do we call ya, stranger?"
atouts: (039; five of pentacles)

hashtag changeling rights

[personal profile] atouts 2019-01-18 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I know just fine how to respect my supposed betters, I'm simply over being abused by them," Childermass carries on, a man who is indeed Very Tired Of This Shit and certainly happy with being an asshole right alongside Rita here.
periphrasing: (Perilaugh)

[personal profile] periphrasing 2019-01-18 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Peridot is hanging out nearby, and lets out a really obnoxious and delighted sounding cackle at Childermass's comment. HELL YEAH, FIGHT THE POWER.
anti_nonsense: (That's the logical outcome.)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2019-01-18 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
Rita's caught off guard by the fae's amusement, but after some consideration, she shrugs.

"Nothing would ever change if people weren't willing to do something 'crazy' once in a while," she says, her earlier tension easing away somewhat.
npcarnival: (Default)

[personal profile] npcarnival 2019-01-18 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh..." the fae says, not offended but a bit bewildered. Whether or not she has any nuanced understanding of changeling abuse is a mystery. "Well. Anyway. I'm looking for your keepers. No names yet, I want it to be a surprise."

She slings a very large hammer over her shoulder, ready for them to show her the way.
kingsroads: (really? well okay then)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2019-01-18 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Their keepers? Strange can't help but frown a little because while it's a technically true way to refer to them...he knows that it's just going to end up with Peridot, Rita, and Childermass yelling at a potential ally with a very large hammer. (Why is he stuck being sensible? This sucks!)

"I think one of them is over in that direction," Strange says, as he gestures in the direction of where he saw Ignatius last. Is Ignatius still there? Hell if Strange knows! "If you'll follow me, I'll lead the way."
fortuneglass: (o-o?)

[personal profile] fortuneglass 2019-01-18 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
She has to squint. "....Keepers?" she repeats dryly, glancing at the others.

She sort of wishes she took Childermass' route and was immediately sassy now. But she's dedicated herself to the polite route so....well.

She will hold her tongue on that! Especially since it really, really feels like she's missing more than she should right now. Not that it stops her entirely, since she glances at Strange again. "Is she talking about Gild and Ignatius..??" she hisses, hoping for at least one other to answer if Strange doesn't.
moonfang: (are you sure you wanna do that?)

[personal profile] moonfang 2019-01-18 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
Zangetsu, too, cackled at Childermass' comment.

"Fine! No names for now, ya big party pooper. Heh... keepers. That's cute. That's a nice hammer, by the way."

He turns his grin toward Carly, slapping his shark tail loudly against the floor. "Who else could she be talkin' about? Ah, maybe the Maiden, too? I don't think Ig and Gild have left just yet."
stompadour: (Default)

[personal profile] stompadour 2019-01-18 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Jasper, having been lingering cautiously not far off since this imposing fae came over here (she has no desire to engage with the majority of fae since some of them split her gem into multiple pieces, which has made the last while difficult, to say the least) pricks up her ears, tense, when the fae woman asks after their keepers...

But thank the light there's someone here with the good sense to just take the fae at her word and give her what she wants. It's not too late for someone to say something stupid, though; Jasper raises one hoof, ready to intervene in case anyone tries to start shit.
npcarnival: (Default)

[personal profile] npcarnival 2019-01-18 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Ig?" the fae repeats, with surprise, and then mirth. "Ig! Hahaha!"

Her laugh is deep and genuine, like that is just the funniest thing ever.

"I can't believe this!"
insidescoop: (Bwueh?)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2019-01-18 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
This is honestly the worst, in the most awkward and confusing of ways.

"..........That...we're travelling with Ignatius..?" Carly tries, blinking rapidly.
atouts: (013; l'arcane sans nom)

[personal profile] atouts 2019-01-18 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
"That any of us would call a general of the Summer Court something so irreverent," Childermass says, giving Carly an answer to that.
periphrasing: (perighhhhh)

[personal profile] periphrasing 2019-01-18 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
Peridot stands up now and crosses her arms at her chest, eyeing the mystery fae up with a bit of a frown.

"Not to be rude, but he's not really our keeper, either," grouches the gem who is literally contracted with Ignatius at this very moment.
moonfang: (a smarmy asshole)

[personal profile] moonfang 2019-01-18 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
Zangetsu gives Childermass a shit-eating grin.

"Whaaaat? 'Ignatius' is a mouthful! Besides, he's our friend now. Friends get nicknames! 'Cept you, boss. I'd never dream of giving you a nickname."

He gestures to hammer-fae, cackling a little. "Besides! I think she likes it."

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